GALLERY: Penn State football overcomes road test, weather to beat West Virginia

Penn State football traveled to Morgantown Saturday to open the 2024 season against West Virginia. The Nittany Lions offense caught lightning in a bottle late in the first half, then had to battle the severe weather throughout the afternoon. But in the end, Penn State returns to Happy Valley with a 5-hour, 42-minute, 34-12 win over the Mountaineers.

It wasn’t the smoothest transition for Andy Kotelnicki’s new offense, with a botched snap between Drew Allar and Nick Dawkins on the unit’s fourth play of the season. The Nittany Lions finished a scoreless first quarter with 48 yards — 16 on the ground and 32 through the air.

Lightning strikes for the Penn State football offense

The offense exceeded that total on the very first play of the second frame, when Drew Allar found Harrison Wallace III in stride for a 50-yard score. The reception was one of five for Wallace in the first half, racking up 117 yards and two touchdowns.

With 32 seconds left in the first half, Drew Allar connected with Omari Evans for a 55-yard gain. Allar found Wallace for his second touchdown of the game to make the score 20-6 Nittany Lions going into halftime. Allar only completed 11 passes on the day but tallied 216 yards and three scores in the process.

Lightning strikes everywhere else

And a halftime it was. Severe weather delayed the start of the second half by 139 minutes. Fans were forced to clear Milan Puskar Stadium as James Franklin and the Nittany Lions crowded the tunnel leading to Mountaineer Field.

Two hours and 19 minutes later, Penn State football picked up right where it left off offensively. The Nittany Lions strung together a ten-play, 83-yard drive, capped off by a 40-yard Nicholas Singleton touchdown run. Singleton led the Nittany Lions in rushing with 114 yards, breaking off multiple 40 yard runs in the second half.

The drive was extended several times by an agile Allar scrambling for the sticks on third and long. Allar, now listed at 235 pounds on the Penn State football roster, has credited his physical transformation this offseason for his enhanced mobility.

The more things change

Defensively, it was new year, new coordinator, but similar results. Tom Allen’s unit held West Virginia to six points and 163 yards in the first half. Penn State forced three Mountaineer fumbles early, with Jaylen Reed recovering one for a turnover.

Reed was all over the field for the Nittany Lions, finishing the day with nine tackles. He and fellow safety KJ Winston, who added 12 stops on the day, led the team in tackles.

The Nittany Lions defense continued to play lights out after the weather delay, allowing just 83 yards in the second half. West Virginia didn’t ultimately find the end zone until the 12:49 mark of the 4th quarter.

Team totals

Penn State:

• Total yards – 457
• Rushing yards – 222
• Passing yards – 235
• Average yards per play – 7.6

West Virginia:

• Total yards – 246
• Rushing yards – 85
• Passing yards – 161
• Average yards per play – 3.7

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